Why is he so sad when he has a beer? (Maneki neko statue at a Japanese grocery in San Francisco’s Japantown) It’s been two years and eight months since I walked away from my Japan blogs. I’m not sure that I am back “for good” or on nearly as consistent…
Chez Matsuo is one of the absolute standards in Tokyo dining, so it’s really hard to offer up an excuse for never having been there. Recently for a summery lunch on a holiday Monday I put that right. The restaurant is situated in ritzy Shoto, which is a quick walk…
Loading… Chikuzenni, a popular one pot dish served in Japanese households throughout the year, is also served during Japanese New Year! This humble dish features chicken and a variety of vegetables boiled in broth with soy sauce and sugar. The sliced lotus root in the dish symbolizes good foresight. …
Namasu is crunchy and fresh with a delightful flavor. It makes a nice side dish to accompany other salads or vegetables. Whilst its not a “salad” in the European context, you could think of it as a Japanese condiment. Ingredients 300 grams daikon, julienned30 grams carrot, julienned1 tsp salt Optional: 1…
Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the most famous pagoda in Myanmar where the Buddha’s hair and many more holy relics are enshrined there. Shwedagon pagoda is considered to be the most sacred relics to those of people in Myanmar. A visit to Myanmar would not be completed without a visit…
Natto is often considered to be the most unique and strange food experience when it comes to introducing Japanese cuisine to foreigners. It’s stinky, sticky, and reminds you of mucous. While as a singular food, natto may indeed be one of the strangest things you can eat in Japan, there…
Loading… Okonomiyaki is also known as “Japanese Pancake” or at times “Japanese Pizza”. This is the perfect recipe to gather your cabbage and bacon scraps, add flour, eggs and other ingredients, and whip up a whole new delicious dish. The tonkatsu sauce and Japanese mayonnaise drizzle are key to take…
I sometimes use Basil instead of Shiso because Shiso is often difficult to find in Australia. Sweet Basil is so popular and available from every grocery store or supermarket. Fresh Shiso or Perilla, which is very similar to Shiso, can be found at Asian Groceries. If you are lucky to…
Konnichiwa.I can’t believe it’s already September!Time flies so fast! I’m still struggling with tough work of my first mid-term in Australia.but even if I’m busy I am eager to eat something healthy & yummy X) Today’s menu that I’m going to introduce is “Nikujyaga”. (Stewed tasty potatoes and meat with…
Tokyo is finally heating up and it’s that time of year for cold sōmen noodles. With a bottle of tsuyu, the seasoned broth for noodles, in the pantry, this dish is on the table in less than 10 minutes. The only thing that really takes time here is boiling the water.While…
‘Yōshoku‘ is literally translatable as ‘Western cuisine’. And that’s pretty much what it appears to be at first glance. But in reality it might be better defined as a branch of Japanese cuisine. Things like kare (curry) rice, fried croquettes, crumbed prawns, hamburg (not hamburger!), omuraisu (omlette on rice) and…
Put dried baby sardines and sesame seeds in a frying pan. Toast the sardines and sesame seeds on low heat for 10-15 mins or until crispy. Stir constantly so the sesame seeds won’t burn. Then, transfer to a plate lined with parchment paper. In the same frying pan, combine sake,…
My children love chilled ‘Zaru Udon’ on a hot summer day. I always keep a bottle of ‘Mentsuyu’ noodle dipping sauce in the fridge, so that anyone can enjoy ‘Zaru Udon’ at any time. On the other day I just wanted to eat something spicy and created this dipping sauce.…
My cookbook is available to buy on Amazon. I want to share one of the most popular recipes from my cookbook SALMON TERIYAKI. The homemade teriyaki sauce works really well with other meats too including steak and chicken. If you are vegetarian it works beautifully drizzled over steamed vegetables or…
In the first few years after I returned to the U.S., I took my sister-in-law to the “Daiso Japan” shops in the Bay Area. The Daiso is a hundred yen (dollar) store in Japan and other parts of Asia, but most things are a $1.50 in the U.S. When my…
Loading… Kuromame are black beans cooked in sweet syrup for over a period of three days. It is a part of Osechi Ryori, the traditional Japanese new year feast. There are a lot of kinds of dishes for Osechi, but kuromame is one of the big three celebration dishes, along…
When I find some pears in the fruit basket getting very soft, I always make them into ‘Pear Upside-down Cake‘. But I recently discovered this custard tart is another good dessert to use up the softened pears. This is almost identical to my ‘Banana & Custard Tart‘. Pears can be…
Tonami Tulip Fair is held every year on the Golden week of Japan from late April to early May at Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture. Tulips are the symbol of Toyama Prefecture and well known for its breathtakingly beautiful bloom of one millions tulips plants from over 450 kinds. Tonami Tulip…
